A LIFEBOAT charity has received a huge sum of money from a sailor who left it in his will.

Chiswick RNLI were given over £200,000 by Jack Farquhar of West Silvertown who died in May this year.

The former merchant navy officer was an Honorary Life Governor of the RNLI and spent 34 of his years at sea. He contacted the charity in 1995 to let them know he would be leaving his estate to them.

It was also from the Chiswick station that Jack's last request was granted, when his ashes were scattered in the River Thames.

Meanwhile a plucky dog narrowly escaped being swept away after it fell into a river.

Jackson, a labrador pointer cross, plunged 15 feet into the Thames on Thursday morning (20) and was dramatically rescued by the Chiswick crew of the lifeboat charity, RNLI.

His owner, Fiona Cowan from Battersea, said: "He was so naughty, he just jumped off the wall, he saw the ducks and just swam after them. I was really worried that he would get swept into Imperial Wharf, but the lifeboat was amazing, it got there in five minutes."

The pooch had been hounding a flock of birds when he jumped into the fast flowing water and was swept down the river towards Battersea before the boat crew arrived.

Andy Mayo, Duty Helmsman said: "We sent three crew members out, we were just worried that the owner would try and go in after her dog.

"The dog couldn't get out of the river, so one of the crew leant out the boat, grabbed the dog and we were able to reunite it with its owner."

He also said that if a dog falls in the water, owners should not attempt to rescue them and should instead call the coast guard on 999.